Signs of autism in girls

Autism First Signs: A Checklist For Girls and Women

While it is clear that the number of boys in Australia who are diagnosed with autism is higher than the number of girls, the reasons for this are not necessarily as obvious.

Why are girls less frequently diagnosed with autism?

The ratio of male:female autism diagnoses is thought to be about 4-3:1, although this likely does not reflect the true gender ratio of autism. It is also generally the case that when girls are diagnosed, it is later on than males.

Research suggests there may be a number of different reasons as to why girls are diagnosed with autism less frequently:

• A bias towards males in the diagnosis process, with the specific needs of girls on the spectrum not sufficiently researched
• When boys display characteristics of autism, these are more likely to be recognised by parents, carers, teachers or health professionals
• Girls are thought to use masking or camouflaging more frequently than males, and are more reluctant to draw attention to themselves
• Girls tend to be diagnosed as being on the spectrum at a significantly later age than boys.

Signs of autism in girls

Everyone’s lived experience of being on the spectrum is unique, but there are many characteristics of autism that are shared by both boys and girls, men and women alike.

However, there are also some signs of autism that are more commonly observed in girls and women, and which may account for the lower incidence of autism diagnoses in females. These can include:

• Masking or camouflaging the challenges presented by the characteristics of autism through a range of strategies
• Avoiding or not seeking social interaction
• Being seen by others as excessively shy, or preferring not to engage with others
• Can be seen as extrovert when it comes to their interests and hobbies
• An ability to keep emotions under control in social scenarios, but prone to becoming upset or distressed at home as a means of release
• Seen by others as quirky, or a day dreamer
• Copying or mimicking others’ speech and actions in social situations
• Having a very limited number of close friendships
• A tendency to become very intense and possessive in friendships, which can also end very suddenly

• Having a tendency to get ‘mothered’ by peers at primary school
• A well developed sense of justice that means they may stand up for others
• Language skills that may appear to be advanced for their age
• A range of non-verbal communication skills
• A highly developed imagination and enjoyment of fiction, pretend and fantasy play
• Play can be one-sided, or overly controlled
• Repetitive behaviours, such as hair twirling
• Intense interests, which may be focussed on culture, art, people, music or animals. These interests may stem from a desire to match those of their peers, or to fit in with others of the same age
• Interests that are advanced for their age
• Being considered an overly fussy eater.

Some characteristics of autism can lead girls on the spectrum to lack self-confidence and have poor levels of self-esteem. This can lead to anxiety and the development of co-morbid mental health issues, particularly if autism has not been formally diagnosed.

Signs of autism in women

Some of the characteristics that adult women with an autism diagnosis commonly report, include:

• Being able to camouflage or mask the signs of autism
• Mimicking others’ behaviours as a means of gaining acceptance and blending in
• Imitating the gestures, expressions and body language of others
• Forcing themselves to make and maintain eye contact in social interactions
• Preparing expressions, phrases and jokes in advance to use in conversations with others.

It is important to remember that the information above is simply a list of some of the common signs and characteristics of autism. It is unlikely that a girl or woman will display all of these characteristics.

To be diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder an individual does not need to display all of these signs, but rather must meet a specific combination of criteria across the two domains of communication and social interaction and behaviours.

It is also important to keep in mind that this is just a short summary and only trained accredited specialists can make an autism diagnosis.

Getting an autism assessment

An autism assessment conducted by trained and qualified specialists in diagnosis will answer the question as to whether an individual is on the autism spectrum or not.

For many years Autism SA has provided autism assessments. Due to high demand we are not taking any new referrals at this time. We apologise for the inconvenience.

There are many Diagnosticians across South Australia. Please look at our Diagnosticians Directory and contact them directly to find out wait times and costs. Please note, the directory does not include all diagnosticians in the state.

Get a copy of the ultimate resource: The Spectrum booklet 

Autism SA is proud to launch The Spectrum: A Guide to Supporting a Child on the Autism Spectrum.

The booklet is designed to assist parents through the autism journey with four comprehensive sections: Understanding Autism, Getting an Autism Diagnosis, Supports and Services, and Strategies and Practices.

You can now purchase The Spectrum booklet for just $29.95. Buy now

Purchasing the PDF allows you to print off the booklet or select pages so you can keep a hard copy on hand when you are seeking practical, credible information about autism. Plus there are additional materials including templates and infographics.